When we experienced the solar eclipse last year, we heard many warnings about the dangers of looking directly at the sun. Medical experts warned that exposing our eyes to the sun for even a few seconds without protection could cause damage that would last a lifetime. It’s amazing how powerful a little exposure can be!
We can see the impact of exposure in many other scenarios. Exposure to secondhand smoke, radiation, or even prolonged sunshine without protection can cause health issues. Exposure can even shape our personal traits. I speak with a Southern accent, because I’ve been exposed to others speaking the dialect all my life. I’m a musician in large part because of my exposure to music from a young age at home, at church, and in school.
Exposure is very powerful in our Christian walk as well. A lot of our spiritual growth or decline is determined by who or what we’re exposed to. Therefore, I’d like to mention three areas of exposure that will help us thrive.
For one, we should stay exposed to the Word of God. Exposure to the Word is exposure to truth. There are a lot of opinions, lies, and misleading spirits in the world today. But the one place we can find the truth is in the Bible.
When we look in the Bible, it’s like looking at a mirror. A mirror allows us to see aspects of our appearance that need to be corrected. We may notice dirt on our face or a hair out of place that we would not be aware of had we not seen our reflection.
The same thing happens in a spiritual sense when we read the Bible. We see parts of our character that need to be corrected and ways God can help us improve. The Bible provides the standard by which we measure our lives. But without exposure to the Word, we miss the mark. That’s why it’s crucial that we read the Bible every day so we can reflect on how to apply it in our lives.
Secondly, we should stay exposed to the Spirit of God. Jesus said, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24, NKJV). We expose ourselves to the Spirit of God when we connect with Him through prayer and worship. You see, God is always with us; He’s omnipresent. But when we reach out to call for Him, we connect with His Spirit in a more engaging way. We open our hearts to hear His voice and open our lives to His help.
Thirdly, we should stay exposed to the people of God. The writer of Hebrews compelled, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25, NLT). We need one another in order to stay encouraged. When we isolate ourselves from other believers, we cut ourselves off from the valuable help they can provide.
With all the technology and information available today, we’re exposed to more than ever. That means we need to be more careful about what we give our attention to. So, I urge you to stay exposed to the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and the people of God. These moments of exposure will change you for eternity.
Reflections 